Koki Hirasaki of Andreessen Horowitz discusses corporate partnership dynamics and manufacturing control between biotech startups and pharmaceutical giants.
Assertion Supported
Hirasaki: Immuno-Oncology Acquisitions Occurred Before Human Clinical Data
“Now, there are some areas of clear exception. So, so very competitive hot areas like oncology, immuno-oncology over the last few years. You've seen this shift in acquisitions earlier on. In, in phase one, and actually even earlier just because it was so compet…”
Assertion Supported
Hirasaki: Spark acquisition vaulted Roche forward in gene therapy platform technology
“And then with the Spark acquisition same thing BMS, I'm sorry Roche was a laggard in the space, and now suddenly leaped ahead with not only a marketed gene therapy, but this AAV platform that it could use for delivering other gene therapies.”
Insight
Hirasaki: Pharma Companies Wait for Phase 2a Data Before Doubling Down
“So, so, you know, it's typical to You know, see pharma companies wait for proof of concept, you know, phase IIa data that shows safety and some efficacy before doubling down.”
Insight
Hirasaki: Top Corporate Buyers Fly In Executive Committees for Priority Biotech Deals
“I can tell you that big companies that really want an asset, that really want to show commitment to that program, will fly, you know, a big portion of their executive committee out in final negotiations to say, hey we're committed.”
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Biotech Boards Increasingly Retain U.S. Rights and Out-License Ex-U.S. Rights
“What we've seen really over the last 10 years is a lot of boards want the companies to be able to be standalone. And so, what you see are, in this fairly typical and actually Spark is a good example, where the company will keep commercial rights for the U.S. A…”
Assertion Partly supported
Hirasaki: Major biopharma companies faced critical patent cliffs in 2018
“Roche lost exclusivity on Zolaire and Rituxin. Pfizer lost exclusivity on Lyrica. And GSK lost exclusivity on Advair.”